Child resting cushion

ABSTRACT

A cushioning device that is placed into a shopping cart after the child is first placed and secured within the cart, allowing the child to sit on the normal seating surface of a shopping cart, and providing padding between the front of the child and the shopping cart push bar for the child&#39;s comfort when in a resting position in the cart. The cushion provides sufficient padding to protect the head and upper torso portion of a person/child from the superstructure of the shopping cart in a forward leaning position or a lateral leaning position, such as in a sleeping position in which the person&#39;s head lies forward over the cart push bar or sideways over the side railings of the cart. Preferably, the resting cushion is constructed to be at least partially self securing within such a transportation device. The cushioning device can also be used, without modification, as a nursing cushion. The enlarged ends of the cushion provide support for the head of a nursing child, while also providing a foot stop to give the child a feeling of security.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a cushion for supporting a personresting, and more specifically, for children resting in a child's seatof a shopping cart, or any other transportation device for a person witha similar structure as a seating compartment of a typical shopping cart.Additionally, the invention also relates to an improved cushion forfeeding a child or infant by a nursing mother.

[0003] 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Heretofore, various cushioning devices have been proposed for thecomfort of children seated in shopping carts. Almost without exception,the prior art devices have been designed to increase comfort between thechild's backside and the cart itself. Some additional prior art hasaddressed shielding the child from bacteria that might be accessed fromthe shopping cart push bar. Little attention has been given tocushioning or supporting a child from the front side of the child, suchas when a child inadvertently is lunged forward toward the shopping cartpush bar, or when the child leans forward to a sleeping position.

[0005] As noted, many variations in seat cushions have been developed tofunction between the backside of the child and the shopping cart. Suchcushions have been constructed employing various fabrication techniquesand materials, including padded fabric, spongy material, or inflatablebladders.

[0006] Bergh et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,606, issued Oct. 19, 1999,discloses a perimeter lined padded material formed in various geometricshapes intended to completely isolate the child form all points ofcontact with the shopping cart. In Bergh et al., the cushion is designedto cover the seat prior to placement of the child into the cart. Berghet al. makes several assumptions about the requirement of padding underthe child which may not necessarily be valid. Additionally, insulatingthe child from the firm seat base can cause delays in a very youngchild's ability to learn to sit up on a normal firm surfaceindependently.

[0007] Installation of the Bergh et al. device in a shopping cart can befurther complicated by the small button holes provided for passing asafety strap of the shopping cart through the seat pad to the child.This process almost certainly requires two hands to accomplish with thechild not in the seat. This means that the child is unattended duringthis installation time. This cumbersome task can discourage use of thesafety straps, adding a tremendous liability factor when using the Berghet al. device. Bergh et al. requires the legs of the child to be passedthrough access holes in the cushion. This can be made quite difficultwhen the child is resistant to such placement. In Bergh et al., theissue of providing sufficient padding over the push bar of the shoppingcart is not directly addressed. However, since the device of Bergh etal. is constructed of a relatively constant thickness material, it isquite probable that providing sufficient thickness to provide adequateprotection would cause the remainder of the pad to become impracticaland cumbersome due to excessive size.

[0008] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,607, issued Oct. 19, 1999 to Waldroup, aseat cushioning device for a shopping cart is disclosed. In Waldroup,the devices are made of relatively firm materials that are placed under,behind, and to the sides of a child in the child seat of a shoppingcart. An additional cover is provided to keep the child isolated from apotentially dirty shopping cart push bar. Although the invention ofWaldroup folds conveniently, it lacks any substantial protection orcomforting for a child leaning or lying forward on the cart push bar.Further, like Bergh et al., Waldroup requires that the cushioning devicebe placed in the cart prior to placement of the child, and furtherrequires the user to deal with numerous straps for proper application.Further, Bergh et al. provides relatively little or no protection of thechild from biting or teething on the shopping cart structures.

[0009] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,207, issued May 19, 1987 to Quartano, aseat cushioning device for a shopping cart is disclosed. In Quartano,the devices are made of segmented cushions forming a pad that is placedunder, behind, and in front of the child in the shopping cart seat. Thesegmented pad is brought forward over the cart push bar to provide chestpadding. Numerous straps are provided to secure the pad to the back andfront of the shopping cart. A restraint strap is relied upon to hold thechild from lateral movement. No additional padding is provided torestrain or protect the child from harm by contact with either side ofthe cart, and the frontal padding only protects the child if itexperiences movement directly forward. Further, as with previouslymentioned prior art, Quartano's pad is placed generally under the childprior to the child being placed into the shopping cart. This means thatthe attendant must use their hands to insert the Quartano device and fixthe straps while the young child is left relatively unattended.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,393,639, issued May 28, 2002 to Ohsner, disclosesan inflatable cushion with an inflatable tubular periphery. In Ohsner,no attention is given, nor structure provided, for placement or use ofthe cushion within a child's seat portion of a shopping cart. In Ohsner,the child is presumed to be lying horizontal during use. Additionally,Ohsner uses a system of larger area bottom walls than top walls to biasthe tubular members upward. This device is not very practical for use asa nursing/feeding cushion and provides little or no elevation supportfor the child's head.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,298, issued Apr. 17, 2001 to Oliveria,discloses a head support for a child's car seat. In Oliveria, noattention is given, nor structure provided, for placement or use of thedevice within a child's seat portion of a shopping cart. In Oliveria,the child is presumed to be sitting generally vertical within a car seatand is structurally supported by the back upright portion of the carseat. Oliveria has no provisions for use in a shopping cart or for useas a nursing or feeding cushion. Oliveria does not provide any practicaluse as a nursing/feeding cushion.

[0012] In the shopping cart cushion by “Baby a la cart” as presented atwww.babyalacart.com, a typical prior art device is depicted. In “Baby ala cart”, a relatively thin cotton padded fabric is shaped into ageneral basket shape that fits into the seating portion of a typicalshopping cart forming a pad that is placed under, behind, and in frontof the child. A portion of the padding is brought forward over the cartpush bar to provide chest padding. An elastic strap is relied upon tosecure the device to the shopping cart. A restraint strap is relied uponto hold the child from lateral movement in place of the standard strapprovided with the shopping cart. This action transfers liability forrestraining the child away from the shopping cart and to the “Baby a lacart” device. While padding is provided around the child, the use of “1inch fluffy batting” is hardly sufficient to protect a child's forwardor sideways movement that results in even relatively low force impactwith the hard bars of the shopping cart. Further, as with previouslymentioned prior art, the pad of “Baby a la cart” is placed generallyunder the child prior to the child being placed into the shopping cart.This means that the attendant must use their hands to insert the “Baby ala cart” device while the young child is left relatively unattended. Inaddition to these stated drawbacks of “Baby a la cart”, this device istotally impractical to serve as a nursing/feeding cushion.

[0013] It should be noted, that none of the above mentioned prior artexamples deal with the issues of nursing or feeding a child or infant atall.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,134 to Matthews, issued Nov. 16, 1993,discloses a generally “C” or horseshoe shaped cushion with a generallyround or curved inner and outer edge and generally lesser curved supportsurfaces. In this patent, the unusual shape is commonly copied oremulated by many manufacturers with various minor modifications. Thecushions of this shape are generally designed to aid in nursing orfeeding an infant or child. However, this type of cushion has severaldrawbacks as a nursing cushion. The lesser curved surface is relativelythe same elevation across the entire surface thus not elevating thechild's head for nursing. Second, the curved or crescent shape requiresthat the child remain curved very close to the mother. Very little extrasurface area for random movement is provided. Attempts have been made touse this type of cushion as a shopping cart cushion. There are severaldrawbacks to using this type of device as a shopping cart cushion, someof these being actually dangerous to the child. First, there is nosecuring device to hold the cushion in front of the child in a shoppingcart. The child can simply jettison the cushion off the front of thecart leaving the child totally exposed to hitting or teething on thesuper structure of the shopping cart. Second, the surface of these typesof cushions are relatively flat. If the child were to rest or fallasleep on this type of cushion in a shopping cart, the child couldeasily roll off to either side and be harmed by hitting thesuperstructure of the shopping cart. Additionally, as a nursing cushion,the relatively even or continuous surface does not provide any elevatedsupport for the child's head above the surface of the cushion. There isalso nothing to provide a foot stop for a nursing child. Further, theresting surface of the cushion is rounded at its outer edge. As theinfant or child becomes larger, he or she is forced to curl into acurved shape to avoid falling off the edge of the cushion. Additionally,this device, along with the many others that resemble it, does not dealwith the issues of protecting a child in a shopping cart.

[0015] It should be noted that all of the aforementioned prior devicescushion the child from underneath or behind the child in the shoppingcart mode, except for Mathews which does not address this issue at all.None of these prior art devices seeks to cushion a child already seatedon the normal seating surface of a shopping cart. Further, none of theknown prior art seeks to cushion the child in a forward lying downposition, or in a position in which the child is leaning forward withchest and face down in a sleeping position against the push bar of ashopping cart. Typically, the known prior art devices require the userto install the devices into the shopping cart prior to placement of thechild into the shopping cart seat. This forces attention and supervisionof the child to be diverted from the child to the device duringinstallation in a shopping cart. When used as a nursing cushion, none ofthe prior art shopping cart devices address this issue at all, andMatthews, along with the many similar devices does not provide fullsupport for the nursing child's head and feet, and provides only arelatively small surface support area for the child.

[0016] Additionally, most of the prior art devices require some form ofstrapping to secure them to a shopping cart for normal use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior artby providing a cushion configured to provide a resting surface for achild, comprising a uniquely configured and constructed multi-sectionalcushion arrangement. A center cushion section has a cover enclosing afiller, an upper surface, a lower surface, left and right sides, anunrestricted front side free from obstructions, and an unrestricted rearside free from obstructions, the center cushion section forming agenerally level cushioning area. Each one of a left and a right elevatedcushion section has a cover enclosing a filler, an upper surface, alower surface, and left and right sides. The right side of the leftelevated cushion section is attached to the left side of the centercushion section, and the left side of the right elevated cushion sectionis attached to the right side of the center cushion section, therebyforming a plurality of side-by-side joined cushion sections with theleft and right elevated cushion section upper surfaces lying in a planeabove and parallel to the center cushion section upper surface.

[0018] The device of the present invention provides a cushion that canbe used in two ideal embodiment modes. In the shopping cart mode, it isplaced into a shopping cart after the child is first placed and securedwithin the cart, using the standard securing devices provided with theshopping cart. This allows the child to sit on the normal seatingsurface of a shopping cart and become accustomed to sitting on a normalseating surface. Additionally, it provides padding between the front andsides of the child and the shopping cart push bar and superstructure.

[0019] In the nursing cushion mode, the significantly enlarged ends ofthe present invention provide significant support for the head of anursing child while also providing a foot stop to give a nursing child afeeling of security. Additionally, the support surface, being morerectangular verses the typical crescent shape of prior art cushionsallows support for larger children and twins.

[0020] It is an object of the present invention, in the shopping cartmode, to provide a resting cushion that provides support for a person,such as a child, in a seating area of a transportation device such as ashopping cart. In all of the below shopping cart mode embodiments, theresting cushion provides sufficient padding to protect the head andupper torso portion of a person/child from the superstructure of theshopping cart in a forward leaning position or in a position slightlyoff to either side, such as in a sleeping position in which the person'shead lies forward over the cart push bar. It is a further object of thepresent invention in this mode to provide a padding system that can beplaced into the shopping cart after the child is situated within theseating area of the shopping cart. Preferably, the resting cushion isconstructed to be at least partially self securing within such atransportation device.

[0021] In the nursing mode, it is an object of the present invention tosupply a cushion that provides significant head support above the mainsupport area, foot stops to provide a feeling of security to a nursingchild, and a large child support surface area generally rectangular inshape in the front of the nursing mother.

[0022] The cushion of the present invention, in the shopping cart mode,may have secondary usages, such as on top of a front cross supportsection of a car seat, similar to the head support cushion of Oliveria.Additionally, in the nursing usage mode, the present invention alsoprovides for child support on the thighs of an adult while the adult isin a reclining position with their legs bent up, and other similarpositions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0023] These and other aspects of the invention will be betterunderstood, and additional features of the invention will be describedhereinafter having reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0024]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention constructed using anair bladder construction technique;

[0025]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention constructed using asponge rubber construction technique;

[0026]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention constructed using afabric and stuffing construction technique;

[0027]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the resting cushion takenalong the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

[0028]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention displayed in the lapof a nursing mother with an infant nursing across the cushion; and

[0029]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a child seated in a shopping cart,with the present moving into place over the lap of the seated child.

[0030] It is to be understood that the accompanying drawings and thefollowing descriptions are provided by way of illustration only and arenot intended to present a finite embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] In FIG. 1, one embodiment of the instant invention, based on amulti-chamber inflatable fluid bladder cushion 1, is depicted. Themulti-chambered fluid bladder cushion 1 is inflated prior to useemploying any of a number of known bladder-filling valves and associatedapparatuses (not shown). After placement of a child in the seat of ashopping cart, the inflated resting cushion 1 is placed in front of thechild between the child and the push bar 7 a of the shopping cart 7.

[0032] The larger end chambers 2 a, 2 b are provided to create a higherbarrier compared to the standard padding chambers 9, thus helping toprevent the child's head or upper body from rolling off the left andright ends of the cushion 1.

[0033] Side chambers 4 define a securement structure section of thecushion 1, helping to hold the overall cushion 1 in place within thearea of a basic shopping cart 7 to be occupied by a child, and providepadding protection between the child's legs/thighs and the sides 7 c ofshopping cart 7. In effect, the resiliency of the side chambers 4 permitwedging of the side chambers 4 between a child's legs/thighs and thesides 7 c of the shopping cart 7.

[0034] In common practice, a child's favorite blanket can be placed overthe top of the cushion 1 making an easily washable comfort surface.

[0035] The standard padding chambers 9 are formed large enough toprovide sufficient padding to prevent a child from hitting the shoppingcart push bar 7 a when lowering his or her head down to rest on thecushion 1.

[0036] Using this design, the invention allows the cushion 1 to beplaced into the shopping cart 7 after the child has been placed in theshopping cart 7 and secured. Additionally, supervisory attention neednot be split between placement of the cushion 1 and placement of thechild in the cart 7, as with prior art.

[0037] While providing significant amount of padding and protection forthe child within the shopping cart 7, the child is allowed to sit on thebasic seat (not visible in the drawing) of the shopping cart 7 and canlean back against a back support 5 of the cart 7. This allows the childto learn to support and balance himself or herself as the shopping cart7 moves in a more natural situation, i.e. the same as without a cushion.This gives the child a more natural base to become familiar with,contrary to the prior art which isolates the child from the seat of theshopping cart 7.

[0038] In some applications for the invention, the optional sidechambers 4 can be made to press against the sides 7 c of the shoppingcart 7, securing the cushion 1 in place and thereby eliminating the needto use additional strapping to support the cushion 1, as is the casewith many of the prior art devices.

[0039]FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment of the invention. Thisembodiment of a shopping cart resting cushion 20 is constructed usingsponge rubber foam or similar resilient material. It may be optionallycovered with a soft fabric or with a child's favorite blanket (notshown). The end caps 22 a, 22 b are formed to extend higher than thecentral padding portion 23. While depicted with orthogonal corners andedges, the cushion of FIG. 2 can equally be formed with rounded edgesand corners. The central padding portion 23 is made thick enough andresilient enough to provide sufficient padding to prevent a child fromhitting the shopping cart push bar 7 a when lowering his or her headdown to rest on the cushion 20. End pads 24 extend downwardly and helphold the overall cushion 20 in place within the area of a basic shoppingcart 7 to be occupied by a child and provide padding protection betweenthe child's legs/thighs and the sides 7 c of the shopping cart 7 in thesame manner as described in connection with FIG. 1.

[0040] A preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 3and 4, the latter being a cross sectional view of the FIG. 3. In thisembodiment, the cushion 30 is constructed of at minimum a fabric baseattached to a fabric top, and stuffed with padding to form paddedchambers 31 a, 31 b, 32, and 33, creating a multi-cushion structureemploying processes known in the field of pillow, mattress, and quiltmanufacturing. A number of different materials can be used for both thebase fabric 41, the top fabric 43, and the padding 45 without changingthe scope of the invention. For example, the filler for the differentcushion segments 4, 2 a, 2 b, and 9 (FIG. 1) may be fluid, cut-foam,shredded foam, feathers, polyfill, synthetic or natural rubber, etc.

[0041] The top and bottom fabric pieces 41, 43 may be sewn together, asshown at 47 in FIG. 4, such that the connection between top and bottomfabrics 41, 43 is closest to the bottom of the cushion 30, allowing thebottom piece of fabric 41 to be substantially flat and level in order toconform better to the top surface of the push bar 7 a. Additionally, thescallop-shaped top fabric 43 on the side padding section 33 tends tobetter secure the resting cushion 30 against the wire frame sides 7 c ofthe shopping cart 7.

[0042] The center padded chambers 32 provide sufficient padding andresiliency so as to cushion a child when leaning forward over thesuperstructure of a shopping cart 7, preventing injury and providingcomfort. The end sections 31 a and 31 b extend higher than the centersection 32, thus helping to prevent the child's head or upper body fromrolling off the end of the cushion 30.

[0043] Left and right side padding sections 33 serves to protect thechild's legs from impacting the shopping cart 7 superstructure and alsoserves to help secure the overall cushion 30 within the shopping cart 7without the need for additional strapping.

[0044] The forward ends of the center and end sections 31 a, 31 b, and32 project beyond the forward ends of the side padding sections 33, soas to extend well over the push bar 7 a.

[0045] The invention depicted in FIG. 5 is being used in the nursingmode, the figure illustrating the comfortable position of a childfeeding from a nursing mother 50. In normal use, center sections 32serve to support the body of a baby 51, while the enlarged end section31 a serves to support the baby's head high enough to comfortably reachthe mothers nursing nipple (not shown). The enlarged section 31 b at theopposite end serves as a foot stop for the nursing baby 51, or as an armsupport for the nursing mother 50.

[0046] In FIG. 6, the cushion 60 of the present invention is depicted inthe shopping cart mode as being placed over the lap of a child 62 in ashopping cart 61. The cushion 60 is depicted as being constructed andconfigured within the scope of the present invention, having a singlelarge center chamber 63 comprising the middle section of cushion 60. Asoutlined in the objectives of the invention, the child 62 is placed intothe shopping cart 61 prior to the installation of the cushion 60 beingplaced over the child's lap. As depicted in this figure, the standardrestraining strap 64 is secured around the child 62 as designed by theshopping cart manufacturer, thus not altering the safety design of thestandard shopping cart 61. Arrow 65 indicates the placement of thecushion 60 over the lap of the child 62 and into the shopping cart 61.

[0047] Although the descriptions and figures herein contain manyspecificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope ofthe invention but as merely providing illustrations of the preferredembodiments of the resting cushion according to the invention.

[0048] There are many other features envisioned by the inventor. Theseinclude the use of the cushion in other structures such as strollers,car seats, etc. Additionally, a cushion made in accordance with theinvention can also be used as a lap cushion for a resting child, or forplaying with a child. Additionally, there are a variety of materials andchamber combinations that may be used in manufacture of the cushion.Some of these envisioned by the inventor include the basic structure asbeing filled with air, other gases, or other materials, whilemaintaining the shape and functionality. The entire cushion could bemanufactured as a single chamber with the same basic shape, etc. Suchbasic modifications are well known to anyone skilled in the art and donot add or detract from the concept of providing a product that: a.cushions a child in a shopping cart 7, or similar transportation device,and which can be put in place after placement of the child within theshopping cart 7, or similar transportation device; or b. can serve as anursing or feeding cushion that props the child's head above theelevation of the rest of the body.

[0049] While only certain embodiments of the invention have been setforth above, alternative embodiments and various modifications will beapparent from the above description and the accompanying drawing tothose skilled in the art. These and other alternatives are consideredequivalents and within the spirit and scope of the present invention.Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appendedclaims and the legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

What is claimed:
 1. A cushion configured to fit securely in an apparatussuch as a shopping cart, or other person transporting apparatus, in aposition to provide a resting surface for a person's head and uppertorso portion, comprising: a center section having an upper surface, alower surface, a front, a rear, and left and right sides, forming agenerally level cushioning area; and an elevated cushioning sectionfixed to each said left an right sides.
 2. The cushion as claimed inclaim 1, wherein: said center section and said elevated cushioningsections are fluid filled.
 3. The cushion as claimed in claim 2,wherein: said center section and said elevated cushioning sections,together, comprise a fluid bladder arrangement having at least one fluidchamber defining said center section and at least one fluid chamberdefining said elevated cushioning sections.
 4. The cushion as claimed inclaim 1, comprising: at least one securement structure, generallyperpendicular to the said generally level cushioning area and extendingbelow said lower surface to provide a means for securing said cushion tosaid apparatus.
 5. The cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein at leastone of said upper and lower surfaces of the said generally levelcushioning area is covered with a soft cloth-like material.
 6. Thecushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said center section and saidelevated cushioning sections are constructed from an elastomericmaterial.
 7. The cushion as claimed in claim 6, comprising: at least onestructure, generally perpendicular to the said generally levelcushioning area and extending below said lower surface to provide ameans for securing said cushion to said apparatus.
 8. The cushion asclaimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of said upper and lowersurfaces of the said generally level cushioning area is covered with asoft cloth-like material.
 9. The cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein:said center section and said elevated cushioning sections areconstructed of a stuffing filled bladder having multiple stuffingchambers and upper and lower central surfaces forming said generallylevel cushioning area.
 10. The cushion as claimed in claim 9,comprising: at least one structure, generally perpendicular to the saidgenerally level cushioning area and extending below said lower surfaceto provide a means for securing said cushion to said apparatus.
 11. Thecushion as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of said upper andlower surfaces of the said generally level cushioning area is coveredwith a soft cloth-like material.
 12. A cushion configured to fitsecurely in an apparatus such as a shopping cart, or other persontransporting apparatus, in a position to provide a resting surface for aperson's head and upper torso portion, comprising: a body restingsection having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front, a rear, andleft and right sides, forming a generally level cushioning area; and atleast one securement structure, generally perpendicular to the saidgenerally level cushioning area and extending below said lower surfaceto provide a means for securing said cushion to said apparatus.
 13. Thecushion as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said body resting section andsaid securement structure section are fluid filled.
 14. The cushion asclaimed in claim 12, wherein: said body resting section and saidsecurement structure section, together, comprise a fluid bladderarrangement having at least one fluid chamber defining said body restingsection and at least one fluid chamber defining said securementstructure section.
 15. The cushion as claimed in claim 12, wherein atleast one of said upper and lower surfaces of the said generally levelcushioning area is covered with a soft cloth-like material.
 16. Thecushion as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said body resting section andsaid securement structure section are constructed from an elastomericmaterial.
 17. The cushion as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least oneof said upper and lower surfaces of the said generally level cushioningarea is covered with a soft cloth-like material.
 18. The cushion asclaimed in claim 12, wherein: said body resting section and saidsecurement structure section are constructed of a stuffing filledbladder having multiple stuffing chambers and upper and lower centralsurfaces forming said generally level cushioning area.
 19. The cushionas claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said upper and lowersurfaces of the said generally level cushioning area is covered with asoft cloth-like material.
 20. A cushion configured to fit securely in anapparatus such as a shopping cart, or other person transportingapparatus, in a position to provide a resting surface for a person'shead and upper torso portion, comprising: a center section having anupper surface, a lower surface, a front, a rear, and left and rightsides, forming a generally level cushioning area; an elevated cushioningsection fixed to each said left an right sides; and at least onesecurement structure, generally perpendicular to the said generallylevel cushioning area and extending below said lower surface to providea means for securing said cushion to said apparatus; wherein said centersection, said elevated cushioning sections, and said securementstructure section, together, comprise a fluid or padding filled bladderarrangement having multiple filled chambers defining said centersection, at least one filled chamber defining each of said elevatedcushioning sections, and at least one filled chamber defining saidsecurement structure section.
 21. A cushion configured to fit securelyin an apparatus such as a shopping cart, or other person transportingapparatus, in a position to provide a resting surface for a person beingtransported in said apparatus, comprising: a center section having anupper surface, a lower surface, a front, a rear, and left and rightsides, forming a generally level cushioning area solely for a person'shead and front upper torso portion and adapted to be placed between theperson's head and front upper torso portion, and any structure of saidapparatus in front of the person; an elevated cushioning section fixedto each said left an right sides; and a securement structurearrangement, generally perpendicular to the said generally levelcushioning area and extending below said lower surface and to the sidesof a person being transported in said apparatus, to provide a means forsecuring said cushion to said apparatus.
 22. A cushion configured toprovide a resting surface for a child, comprising: a center cushionsection having a cover enclosing a filler, an upper surface, a lowersurface, left and right sides, an unrestricted front side free fromobstructions, and an unrestricted rear side free from obstructions, saidcenter cushion section forming a generally level cushioning area; andleft and right elevated cushion sections, each having a cover enclosinga filler, an upper surface, a lower surface, and left and right sides;wherein said right side of said left elevated cushion section isattached to said left side of said center cushion section, and said leftside of said right elevated cushion section is attached to said rightside of said center cushion section, thereby forming a plurality ofside-by-side joined cushion sections with said left and right elevatedcushion section upper surfaces lie in a plane above and parallel to saidcenter cushion section upper surface.
 23. The cushion as claimed inclaim 22, wherein: said center cushion section is generally rectangular;and said left and right elevated cushion sections extend rearwardlybeyond said center cushion section rear side.
 24. The cushion as claimedin claim 22, comprising: a left securement cushion section connected tosaid left side of said left elevated cushion section; and a rightsecurement cushion section connected to said right side of said rightelevated cushion section; said left and right securement cushionsections extending generally perpendicular to said center cushionsection and extending below said center cushion section lower surface toprovide a means for securing said cushion to an external apparatus.